Medical imaging by 2D large area ultrasound arrays

Imec is developing a smart platform based on a 2D array of ultrasound transducers connected to thin-film transistor technologies. This platform envisions to generate haptic feedback in mid-air, enabling smart objects to let its user feel what is going on or what needs to happen. Key applications for such ultrasound transducer arrays are medical imaging, fingerprint scanning, directed audio and gesture recognition.

The thin-film transistor has a charge carrier mobility of about 20 cm2/Vs, and can only carry electrons, meaning that only n-type transistors exist. Furthermore, the transistor dimensions are not strongly scaled, and of the order of 0.5 to 2 micron.

The goal of this PhD is to elaborate driving and read-out schemes of 2D ultrasound arrays for medical imaging and gesture recognition applications, aiming to improve resolution and image quality of the monitored organ or body part. The PhD student will perform detailed system level study of thin-film transistor-based ultrasound arrays for imaging applications, differentiating the in-pixel circuit complexity by thin-film transistors and the silicon CMOS peripheral circuits. In addition to design, the PhD student will also be responsible for the circuit and matrix measurements, comparison of experiments and modelling. Designs will be processed in the imec cleanrooms.

The candidate PhD student has a solid background in electronic engineering and circuit design. Also, a strong affinity to technology and physics is a must for this research. The PhD work will take place in the large area electronics (LAE) department in imec. The group counts about 45 people with extensive expertise in thin-film processing and design, and has 15 years of experience. The group has a very strong international reputation in this field, with multiple ISSCC publications and an H-index for the thin-film electronics activity of 50. ​

Required background: electronic engineering with affinity to physics and technology

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